Heina: The Red Demon Dragon

HEINA

"W-what?" I couldn't believe what I'd just heard.

"What does that even mean?" One of the boys asked.

"Why did you save her back in the human world?" The man with white hair and snake eyes wanted to know. He was no longer looking in my direction. His body posture almost showed he was wary of me... maybe even scared. But why?

"She needed saving." The other replied.

"You saved the wrong one." The man simply stated, finally risking a glance my way.

"Stop speaking in parables, Klaz." The topaz blue eyed warned, impatience ringing in his tone.

"She's a heina." He revealed.

A confused me could only stare blankly. "W-what is a heina?"

"What?!" The boys boomed, clearly they had not been expecting that answer. They passed me a look of contempt.

Growling, they rose from their seats simultaneously. It was as though they read each other's minds - twin telepathy, probably.

"What is a heina?" I asked the white haired man, hoping he'd reply me at least.

But he merely glanced over at me before turning away.

I stood, not understanding why my name was mentioned as though it was a 'something' rather than a 'someone'. I could agree that my name was unusual. It wasn't the kind of name casually given to babies but it was the name my parents had given me and I couldn't question it.

"My name is Heina." I spoke lowly to him.

"Oh. Is that so?" He cast me a brief look, that wary look still in his eyes.

"Are you sure, Klaz? I mean..." The one with sapphire decided to take his seat. Aloofness mixed anger. "She doesn't look it." He barely flicked me a glance.

"I saw what I saw." Klaz was firm on whatever it was they were talking about.

What had he seen? I just couldn't understand any of what was happening.

"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" The suspense was killing me and I was on the verge of bawling my tired eyes out.

Klaz took one look at me yet again, then turned to the twins and spoke in a language I'd never heard in my entire life.

I didn't understand it but if I could tell by the twins' reaction to it, it wasn't something pleasant. What language was that? It sounded ancient and mysterious.

Curiosity was eating greedily at me but there was nothing I could do to get them to talk to me. So I stood and watched sheepishly words in a foreign language fly back and forth, through their midst as they conversed about me - I strongly suspected so.

Asides confusion and curiosity, I felt other emotion; anger. It roared within. Not to mention pain.

"Enough!" I screeched my frustration and anger.

The three of them stopped to look at me.

"Today was supposed to be my day." I began, my tone quivering. The tears would soon come. "I hate my birthdays. Nothing good ever comes out of April 13th. My parents knew how much I hated celebrating birthdays. But they made today special. I was finally becoming a woman, according to them. They bought me that lovely dress currently upstairs. And just as expected, the day got ruined but never in a million years would I have thought it'd be ruined this way..."

I choked on the tears that were tracking down my face, I pushed my glasses aside to wipe them away.

"...my parents, the only family I'd known is dead. Some... mythical creatures, or I believed to be, exist and I'm in a house where I feel lost and out of place! If you won't tell me anything then take me back home. I want to go home. My parents...t-they deserve a proper burial in the very least."

I swiped impatiently at another bout of tears.

"Azila!" The sapphire blue eyed called.

I didn't even know their names, yet. They were new transfer students...or so I thought. They didn't mingle with any other student for the period they attended my college. And I doubted any of those students knew their names.

The maid who had attended to me earlier ran in. "Yes, Dragon Lords." Her head was bowed.

"Take her to her room."

"No." I shook my head, refusing on the spot. "I'm not moving an inch until you tell me what the hell is going on!"

The topaz blue eyed was standing before me in no second, he cupped my jaw, piercing my gaze with a hard one of his own. I had no idea how he'd moved so fast.

Well, maybe dragons were fast.

His eyes narrowed in slits. "Never argue when you are being ordered to do something." His voice chilled my spine, causing my knees to tremble. "And do not make me or my brother regret saving you even more."

I swallowed, forcing down emotions. His eyes - hard as rock - and his tone - colder than Antarctica - froze my blood, leaving no room for debate.

Even more. They were already regret saving me.

"Am I understood?"

I nodded. "Y-yes."

He released my jaw and went to seat beside his brother who studied me as one would a strange creature he was considering how to deal with.

Dispirited, I trudged ahead, my maid, Azila, following quietly behind.

The moment I got to the room I'd woken up in, I raced to the bed and flung myself on it, sobbing my eyes out.

Azila remained silent. I felt her gaze on me. But I didn't care that someone was watching me cry. It was all too overwhelming for me.

"Princess Sirra." I heard her greet.

I raised myself to look at who had just come in. It was a young girl about my age that strode in. Before I could take a proper look at her, she had reached my side and swiped hard across my face, I held my cheek in shock and disbelief.

I even had to adjust my glasses back on my face as they'd gone askew after the hit.

That side of my cheek stung, eliciting more tears from me. "What was that for? W-who are you?" I cradled my face.

She wagged a finger angrily in my face, streaming words in that language I couldn't comprehend, I could somehow guess she was hurling insults at me.

My eye flicked over to Azila in disbelief, she gave me a silent look of sympathy but didn't dare say anything.

"You stupid heina! Coming to doom us all with your cursed presence. Go back to wherever you were brought in from!" She finally spoke in a language I could understand.

This again? They wouldn't even tell me what was wrong. Helpless anger and overwhelming sadness had me pushing myself out of the bed, bolting for the door and running downstairs.

There was no one in the living room this time and even if there were, I didn't care. I just wanted to leave this place.

I found the door and ran out. I didn't stop. I wasn't much of a runner but I tried my best. To my shock, I realized there was eerie stillness everywhere.

Thickets of bush. A cliff. Forest. Was there no civilization here? Frustration gnawed. Pain clawed. I continued to run, trying to look for a way out. I had no idea where I was going but anywhere was better than here.

The wind tugged my hair loose, drying my tears. I lifted the skirt of my dress so I wouldn't trip over and fall on my face.

I ended up in a dense forest. The day had gone considerably dark. I paused to look around. The house was no longer in sight. But there were noises and none of it human.

Fear and panic snuck in, a whimper left my mouth. I was lost. I heard the snap of a dry twig nearby.

Oh my goodness. There was a howl echoing through these clusters of widespread canopies of tall, huge trees. Then a cackle that sounded like a hyena.

Something rustled leaves nearby, I saw the silhouette of...of...I didn't even know what it was but when it leapt out from behind the bushes to attack me, I let out a loud piercing scream...